Meeting the health needs of our neighbors and communities is our business.
Project STAY (Services to Assist Youth) utilizes a venue-based HIV screening approach to provide services for young people in high schools, alternative high schools, colleges, community colleges, workforce development programs, agencies serving the formerly incarcerated and organizations serving LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. We also provide services at Pride events, Kiki balls, House balls, health fairs and a range of other community locations.
Currently, over 25 community-based organizations are part of the Project STAY network. Project STAY holds STI and HIV testing and workshops at our partner agencies, conducts Zoom workshops for staff and participants, and tables at events. Project STAY is also a resource for participants at these agencies to receive STI or HIV treatment, PEP, PrEP, contraception, gender-affirming care including hormone replacement therapy, primary care, and immunizations at our New York Presbyterian Hospital based clinics.
Learn more about us by visiting our New York Presbyterian and Columbia University pages.
Project STAY offers four primary services to our partner organizations:
On-site HIV & STI testing: Our health educators provide rapid HIV testing and 3-site STI testing (oral, anal, urine) on-site at community events or agency offices.
Health education workshops: Our health educators give 30-45 minute in-person or virtual workshops on sexual health myths, the importance of testing, and linkages to care.
Linkages to our clinic: We provide referrals to community organization’s staff and client-base from birth control to hormone replacement therapy.
Outreach support and coordination: We coordinate with community-based organizations and agencies to tailor on-site testing or educational workshops to their needs.
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New Alternatives for LGBTQ+ Homeless Youth
New Alternatives increases the self-sufficiency of LGBTQ+ homeless youth by enabling them to transition out of the shelter system to stable adult lives. The organization provides long-term social and community support and has invited Project STAY to provide on-site HIV and STI testing as well as linkages and referrals our clinic for over 5 years.
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Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
CEO offers individuals just coming home from prison the ongoing support necessary to build career capital and financial stability. They provide job–readiness training, transitional employment, job coaching and placement, and retention services. Project STAY provides one-on-one health counseling and on-site HIV and STI testing to participants during their orientation process.
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Knit the Rainbow
Knit the Rainbow was founded in 2020 to help homeless LGBTQ+ youth in New York City survive the brutal winters. KtR works to empower and protect these youth by providing them with handmade knit and crochet winter clothing accessories distributed through community centers and other access points for social services including shelters. Project STAY has coordinated awareness events including a Sip and Stitch night for students that also provided free, on-site HIV and STI testing. Our contact information to free health care services can be found on the backside of KtR’s garment tags found on every piece of donated clothing.
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Fashion Institute of Technology
Project STAY has been a long time partner of FIT’s Health Center, providing on-site HIV and STI testing as well as individualized sexual health counseling every Friday for students. We work closely with their compassionate staff of physicians, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners to coordinate care plans for the students we connect with for seamless treament and referrals.
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CAMBA - Brooklyn Outreach and Prevention (BOP)
Project STAY Partners with CAMBA, a non-profit agency that serves more than 65,000 people cross New York annually. We work closely with CAMBA Brooklyn Outreach and Prevention (BOP), which provides HIV / healthcare services to the LGBTQ+ community, with a focus on individuals of color.
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Queer Voices: NYC Film Festival
Queer Voices: NYC (QVNYC) is a 3-day film festival focused on centering and celebrating LGBTQIA+ filmmakers of color. Queer Voices NYC also hosts film and documentary screenings at venue across NYC, such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community center. Project STAY offers HIV and STI testing at Queer Voices events.
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Trinity Place Shelter
Trinity Place Shelter is a safe, affirming shelter where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ*) youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in New York City can access the skills and resources needed to exit the cycle of homelessness. Project STAY offers regular STI and HIV testing during the shelter’s drop-in programs on Wednesday afternoons.